FOLLOWING dawn raids on crack houses across three counties and 18 subsequent arrests, 10 people from Comet country have been charged with supplying Class A drugs. Drugs and cash were seized and arrests made after 17 dwellings were raided in a huge operati

FOLLOWING dawn raids on crack houses across three counties and 18 subsequent arrests, 10 people from Comet country have been charged with supplying Class A drugs.

Drugs and cash were seized and arrests made after 17 dwellings were raided in a huge operation, triggered after months of intelligence and substantial evidence had been gathered using covert police tactics.

Following court appearances at Stevenage Magistrates' Court, one man and two women from Baldock, one man and two women from Hitchin, two men and one woman from Letchworth GC and a man from Great Wymondley have all been charged with supplying Class A drugs.

A man from Stotfold has been cautioned for permitting his property to be used for the supply of Class A drugs and a Baldock man was charged with possession of a Class C drug.

Another man, arrested at a Baldock address on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, has been released on bail to return to Stevenage police station at a later date.

A Hitchin man who was arrested on suspicion of possessing a Class A drug has also been released on bail, to return to Stevenage police station at a later date.

Magistrates have granted a three-month drugs closure order on the Baldock address reported in last week's Comet, meaning it will be an offence to enter the property without police permission.

Police officers applied to magistrates for the closure order using powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.

It was granted after evidence of supplying Class A drugs and proof of anti-social behaviour was presented by police at a court hearing.

Two of the 10 people charged with supplying Class A drugs have been remanded in custody.

The rest have been bailed and all 10 will appear at Luton Crown Court on February 19.